A tropical cyclone warning is now inforce for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai land areas, Tonga MetService said this morning.
A gale warning still remains in force for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai Land areas.
A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory still remain in force for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai land areas.”
It said the tropical disturbance Tropical Disturbance 04F was located near latitude 17.0 south and longitude 177.2 west or about 230km southwest of ‘Ēsia (Niuafo’ou) or 380km west – southwest of Hihifo (Niuatoputapu), or 385km west- northwest of Neiafu (Vava’u), or 420km northwest of Ha’afeva (Ha’apai), or 430km northwest of Pangai (Ha’apai) at 10am this morning.
The system is currently slowly moving southeast at a speed of 12knots (24km/hr).
The weather forecast for midnight tonight for Tonga indicates associated clouds, heavy rain, and strong to gale-force winds with thunderstorms affecting the Niua Islands, Vava’u, and the Ha’apai groups.
The forecast for the Niuas indicates west to northwest winds of 25-30 knots (30-40 km/hr), with occasional gusts reaching gale force winds of 35-45 knots (70-90 km/hr).
Conditions will be overcast with occasional rain, which could be heavy at times, alongside isolated thunderstorms.
Flooding in low-lying areas is risky due to the expected heavy rainfall.
For Vava’u and Ha’apai, it is expected east to southeast winds 15-20knots (30-40km/hr), then rising up to 25knot at times this morning, and gusting up to gale force winds of 35-45knots (70-90km/hr) at times.
Overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.
Flooding in low-lying areas due to heavy rain is expected.
Tongatapu and ‘eua forecast an east-to-southeast wind 10-15knots (20-30km/hr), rising up to 20knots (40km/hr) at times.
